Sash hanging device



Feb. 18, 1941. K. o. Goal-:R

SASH HANGING DEVICE Filed April 27, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet l 4 //v VEA/TOR Kam O. Goe/5R .-1 TTORNEY Feb. 18, 1941. K o. GoBER SASH HANGING DEVICE .III

aets-Sheet Patented Feb. 18, 1941 UNITED STAT PATENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

The invention relates to a counterbalancing device for double-hung .window sash.`

An obj ect of the invention is' to`r provide an improved arrangement whe'rei'n the upper' and 6 lower' sash of windows are arrangedy to mutually counterbalance each other through their" sup'- ported connection by flexible and elastic cord members passing over pulleys mounted on' the p frames for the sash.

Another object to provide for a controlled stretching' of the sash-supporiirig'` cord in such a manner that a positive upward pull maybe exerted' on either' of the sash by a downward movement of the other.

A further object is to provide a device lor the class described wherein the hardware thereof may be installed in connection with present Window sash and their frames witlii particular readi-` ness and without requiring special structures'- for the sash or frames.

The invention possesses other objects and features of advantage, some of which, with the foregoing, will be set forth or' be apparent in the following" description of a typical embodiment of the invention, andl in the accompanying drawings, in which,

Figure 1 is an inside face View of a window having its upper and lower sash mutually counl, terbalanced 'by the use of the device of present 3 invention, the window casings' being' omitted, and

a portion of the lower sash being shown in section.

Figure 2l is a fragmentary inside elevation of the window and sash assembly, with. certain parts broken away to show the upper sash in section.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary section at 3-3 in Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a section taken on the broken line 4--6 in Figure 1, with the window fully shut.

Figures 5 and 6 are views similar to Figure 4 and respectively showing' the window partly open from the bottom only as in Figures 1' and 2 and open both top and bottom.

Figures '7l and 8 are enlarged perspective views showing the connections between elastic and inf elastic portions of the counterbalance connecting cord, a stop means for said cord being shown as operative in Figure 8.

showing' a latch means as operative to secure the two sash against relative movement thereof.

Figure 10 is a vertical section through the] structure of Figure 9L Il Figure 11 is' a perspectiveview of `an unmount- Figure 9 is a fragmentary perspective viewl ed' connector' member for the elastic and inelastic cord' portions.

As particularlyr illustrated, the device of my invention is provided in connection with upper and lower sash I4 and I5 which are provided in 'a window frame I 6 of a usual structure; The window frame opening is defined between mutually parallel side members I'I, a top cap member I8, and a sill I8. The Sides I'l provide a pair of parallel and upright guideways in which .the sash `I4 and I5 are slidable for thev full height of the window opening, said guideways being de- 'n'n'ed at oppositesides of beads 2| which extend Y from' the frame sides. The lower sash I5 is disposed theframc guideway which is inwardly ofithe' bead 2| whereby the upper sash I5, when raised,` may discharge rain therefrom only upon vthe' outer face of the lower sash I4.

is usual, the lower frame element 22 of the upper sash i-s provided with an inwardly protruding rib or bead 23 which extends into the space between the two sash and has an upwardly directed face 24 which is complementary to the downwardly directed face 25 of a. rib or bead 26 isprovided on the upper frame member 21I or the lowerl sash I4 and extends into the space betweenV the sash. When the window is `ful-ly closed, as in Figures 4 and 9 and 10, the ribs 23 and 2G are cooperative to provide an antiedraft seal between the two sash, while the Vupper frame element 28 of the sash I4 and the lower frame element 29 of the sash I 5 provide air seals at the cap I 8 and sill I9 respectively.

Grooves 3`I and 32 are dened in and along theside frame members 33 and 34 respectively of the sashv I 4 and I5, corresponding grooves of the twoA sashA being arranged to receive end portions of exible' and longitudinally elastic elements which connect the two sash over pulley units 35 which are mounted at the top of the window frame. Preferably, and as shown, the pulleys l35 are mounted with their wheels 36 in the planesof the corresponding grooves 3| and 32 of the two sash and above the window' opening, .whereby their presence does not interfere with f .the normal engagement of the upper sash with the ,frame cap I8 and they may be concealed. vThe wheel 36 of a pulley unit 35 is mounted on an axle 31 which extends between the opposite and mutually parallel sides of a housing or casing 38 for the wheel, and said casing is arranged forits disposal in and through a cross-slot 39 which would be provided in the frame cap I8. As shown, one side of the slot 33 lies in the plane of the inner face of the adjacent frame side I1 whereby the installed pulley may be disposed in a plane adjacent said side and coincident with the common plane of the cord-receiving grooves 3| `and 32 at the same window side. The pulley unit 35 is preferably so disposed that the bottom of its casing 38 is iiush with the lower face of the frame cap I8 whereby to minimize the head room required above said cap while avoiding any alteration of the sash for tting to the pulley when either sash is fully raised. Also, because no working parts are required beyond the side frame members, the present arrangement is understood to permit the use of a win-` k dow frame with the widest possible window open# ing a longitudinal extension 48 of its bottom poring for a given wall opening.

'I'he pulley units 35 may be fixed in their opi erative position in any suitable manner. As shown, a pulley casing side which is aligned with a frame side I1 is extended downwardly'and is arranged to be screwed or nailed to the frame side. Also, the slots 39 are preferably formed for the drive fit of the pulley units 35lv`therein, as the sole or a partial means to secure the units in place on the window frame. While the present unit 35 comprises a pulley rotatably mounted in a supporting housing, it will be understood that a structure providing an inverted U-bend guideway for the movement of a flexible sashsupporting element around it will serve the present purposes as the operative equivalent thereof in the present combination.

It will now be noted thatl each llexible sashsupporting member essentially comprises atension spring 4I and a cord 42 mutually attached by a connector member 43, and respectively comprising longitudinally elastic and inelastic portions of the sash-supporting member. While the spring 4I is shown as comprising a helical coil of spring wire, and the cord 42 is shown as a multistrand structure of either fibrous material or wire, the spring4l might comprise a `longitudinally stretchable element of rubber or the like composition, while the member 42 might be of a chain or similar structure. Like spring-and-cord assemblies are provided at opposite window sides Y whereby to divide the sash support and minimize side friction of the sash in their guideways, this being standard practice for double-hung sash.

The length relations of the connected springs 4I and cords 42 are preferably such that the cordsengage over the pulley wheels 36'for all relative positions of the supported sash I4 and I5, and the two assemblies may alone support the two sash in counterbalanced relation in which the window opening is at least partly open, as in Figures 1 and 2 and 5 and 6. A full 'closingof the window opening by the two sash requires a stretching of the spring 4I, as is shown in'Fi'gure 4, and a suitable catch means is provided for direct coaction between the sash to mutually secure the latter in a usual window-closing relation in which the ribs 23 and 26 of the respective sash are cooperative in -the described manner as an air-sealing means between the sash.

As illustrated, the catch means for mutually securing the two sash in window-closing 4relation comprises a spring-pressed bolt 44 carried in a tubular housing and mounted transversely in the lower sash element 21 to normally extend from the rib 26 of the element for its removable engagement in a socket 45 which-is provided in a ably provides a bevelled approach surface 41 d above the socket 45 whereby the bolt may be operative as a spring catch as the sash members 22 and 21 are moved into mutual opposition during a full closing of the window. It will be noted that the installation of the disclosed catch assembly requires only the boring of a hole transversely through the member 21 to receive the housing of the bolt 44 and a cutting out of slots across the sealing ribs of the members 22 and 21 to receive the keeper plate 46 whichl is mounted on themeniber 2 2. f

By referenceto' Figures 7 and 11', itwill be seen that the present connector 43 is shaped of a piece of sheet material to dene a channel havtion formed as a hook to engage a terminal hook 49 of the spring 4I for detachably connecting the 3 member and spring. The channel bottom is also provided with'a pair of perforations 5I for rey ceiving a bend of the end portion of the cord 42 It will now be noted that each of the side grooves 3| of the upper sash lI4 is long enough to fully receive thesprings 4I when they are stretched beyond the lengths they must have when the window is fully.` closed, as in Figure 4, and that the lower spring ends may be anchored by a suitable means atan appropriate point along the groove. In the `present case, the sash frames are assumed tobe of wood, and the lower spring ends `may be secured to the sash sides by nails orstaples 53. lThe side grooves 32 of the lower sash I5'may be relatively short, and knotted cord ends. may be fixed in laterally enlarged lower groove ends by the use of a nail or staple 54 engaging themv and they sash frame. It is to be understoodthat the' present arrangement of anchorages for the ends of a spring-and-cord tension unit is applicable to al1-metal sash which are usually provided with side grooves or channels corresponding to the grooves 3| and 32.

With the spring-and-cordunits correspondingly connecting the two sash and the sash otherwise free in their guideways, the sash are arranged 'to mutually counterbalance each other with vthe window `open to a degree determined by the relative positions of the two sash in the window opening, as is particularly and diierently illustrated in Figures 5 and 6. When the lower sash I5 is pulled down to fully close the window, the upperv sash I4 will be raised to engage the frame cap I8, and the spring 4I will thereafter be stretcheduntil the window is closed to permit the engagement of the'catch bolt 44 in the socket 45, thisubeing the condition shown in Figure 4. A subsequent withdrawal of the bolt 44 from the socket 45 will permit an Aupward movement of the lower sash upwardly and entirely under the inlluence A of the springs 4I to its position of counterbalancing and without effecting any lowering off the upper sash I4.y If a lowering of the upper sash is'desired, the lower sash is raised furtherby hand to permit a corresponding lowering of theruppr sash, as is indicated in Figure 6. It will be noted that the present arrangement provides .for a maximum opening of the window while the sash are counterbalanced .in transverse registration withA each other centrally of the winow frame opening. Also, and in view of the described action, it will be understood that the spring 4I might be mounted in and attached to the lower sash while the cord 42 is fixed to the upper sash without changing the described operation of the arrangement.

Sinch a sash may stick in its guideway occasionally, means are preferably provided whereby the upper sash I4 may be positively pulled to its fully raised position if the spring tension fails to free and move the lowered sash when the lower sash is pulled down. Accordingly, and as is brought out in Figures 7 and 8, means are preferably provided on the sash which carries the spring 4I to so engage the cord when the spring is stretched slightly beyond its required length for a fully closed condition of the window that the inelastic cord may then provide the sole operative connection of the two sash, and a further lowering of the lower sash will positively urge a raising of the upper sash toward its fully raised position.

In the present instance, each cord-engaging means on the sash i4 which carries the springs 44 comprises a plate 56 fixed to the sash across the groove v3| and perforated in the `central line of the groove to freely receive the cord 42 therethrough and to have the corresponding connector member 43 engage its under side as a stop to limit the stretching of the spring and provide a direct and inelastic cord connection between the two sash, as may be needed. While the present arrangement is such that -a connector 43 provides ithe cord stop for coaction with the plate B, it will be understood that a separate member on the cord might provide the stop thereon for engagement with said plate on a sash.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the advantages of the construction and operation of the present sash hanging device will be readily understood by those skilled in the art to which this invention appertains. While I have described the features and principles of operation of a structure which I now consider to be a preferred embodiment of my invention, I desire to have it understood that the showing is primarily illustrative, and that such changes may be made, when desired, as fall within the scope of the following claims.

1. In a window having a frame slidably mounting upper and lower sash for their disposal to cooperatively close the window opening, a pulley mounted at the top of the window frame, a ilexible cord looped over said pulley and supportingly connecting said sash in a counterbalanced relation such that the sash are mutually overlapped in the window opening to provide a partly open condition of the window, the portion of said cord between the pulley and its connection to the upper sash including a longitudinally elastic part extending entirely within the confines of the upper sash and the remainder of the cord being relatively inelastic, and stop means cooperative between the upper sash and the cord comprising a removable connector member longitudinally adjustably carried on the inelastic cord portion and lockable thereon in operative position and said removable connector member in operative posi- 'tion positively attached to the elastic portion to thereby connect the inelastic and the elastic cord portions together and a ixed projection on the sash for engagement by the connector member when the elastic portion is stretched to its desired limit.

2. In a window having a frame slidably mounting upper and lower sash for their disposal to cooperatively clcse the window opening, a pulley mounted at the top of the window frame, a ilexible cord looped over said pulley and supportingly connecting said sash in a counterbalanced relation such that the sash are mutually overlapped in the window opening to provide a partly open condition of the window, a portion of said cord between the pulley and its connection to the upper sash including a longitudinally elastic part extending solely within the coniines of the upper sash and the remainder of the cord between the pulley and the elastic part being relatively inelastic, and stop means cooperative between the upper sash and cord, comprising a separate member adjustably xed to the inelastic cord portion at substantially the end thereof removed from the pulley, and said member attached to the elastic cord portion at substantially the end thereof removed from the end connected to the sash, to provide a partially inelastic and elastic cord extending from the pulley to the point of connection to the sash, and a fixed projection on the sash for engagement by the member when the elastic portion is stretched to its desired limit.

KARL O. GOBER. 

